Shambhu Chandra Mallick (?-1977)—The Master’s second supplier of necessaries after Mathur Babu. Born in a family of goldsmiths of Kamalnayan Street in Sinduriapati, only son of Sanatan. Employed in a commercial firm, amassed wealth. Made the acquaintance of the Master during his visits to his garden-house, “Shambhu Villa” at Alambazar (presently 96, Surya Sen Road, Calcutta 35). Drawn to the Brahmo Samaj at first, had once taken Keshab Chandra Sen to the Master. Known for his great munificence. Before the Master had a vision of Jesus, he had heard the Bible read out to him by Shambhu which roused a keen interest in the Christian faith in him (Sri Ramakrishna, the Great Master, Vol. 1, p. 338). Shambhu addressed the Master as “Guruji” and his wife, who regarded the Master as God, used to take the Holy Mother to their house on auspicious days to worship her (Ibid., p. 351). Shambhu noticed the inconveniences of Holy Mother at Nahabat and, buying a plot of land near the temple, built a house for her there, Capt. Viswanath Upadhyaya supplying timber for it. She lived in that house for about a year. The Master once passed a night there (Ibid., 351-52).
Shambhu served the Master and the Holy Mother for about four years. Once when returning from Shambhu’s garden the Master, carrying a tiny portion of opium tied in a corner of his cloth, lost his bearings and could only find his way after throwing the opium away. The Master being free of all worldly bonds, even a little saving went against his nature (The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, p. 845). The Master’s unique teaching, “… The aim of life is attainment of God… God alone is real and all else unreal… He alone is the Doer and we are but His instruments …” (Ibid., p. 453) had been addressed to Shambhu. Shambhu died of diabetes. The Master went to see him during his illness and returning, said, “There is no oil in Shambhu’s lamp” (Sri Ramakrishna, the Great Master, Vol. 1, p. 353). Shambhu, unperturbed, told Hriday a few days before his death, “I have no anxiety about death; I have packed up my bag and baggage and am quite ready to depart” (Ibid). Of the Master he had once said, “Here is a great hero without a sword or shield” (The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna, p. 863). The Master had identified Shambhu as the second supplier of his needs, from a vision granted to him by the Divine Mother (Ibid., p. 934).